Passing the Reins - Season 1

1. Gate in

Aired: 10/12/2025

Eiji Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki), a tax accountant who’s lost his sense of purpose after a career setback, is asked by Royal Human Corporation to investigate its struggling horse racing division. The company’s founder, Kozo Sanno (Koichi Sato), passionately supports the division, but his son Yutaro (Kotaro Koizumi) wants it shut down, while Kozo’s wife Kyoko (Hitomi Kuroki) despises it altogether. Sent to Hokkaido to meet Kozo, Kurisu arrives late and witnesses him lose a prized horse auction to rival owner Yoshihiro Shiina (Ikki Sawamura). Drawn into Kozo’s world, Kurisu encounters a life far removed from his own—and unexpectedly reunites with his former lover, Kanako Nozaki (Wakana Matsumoto), who now works at her family’s farm. After recommending the division’s closure, Kurisu learns from Kanako the harsh realities of horse racing. Inspired by Kozo and Kanako’s passion, he rediscovers his drive and sets out on a new path.

2. Front Runner

Aired: 10/19/2025

Invited by Kozo (Koichi Sato), Eiji Kurisu (Satoshi Tsumabuki) joins Royal Human Corporation as the exclusive secretary for the horse racing division. In the order of his duties he meets with Kozo’s wife, Kyoko (Hitomi Kuroki), who despises horse racing. Later, Kozo’s son Yutaro (Kotaro Koizumi) challenges his father to win at least one central race within the year—or abolish the division entirely, citing complaints from the younger employees. Kozo accepts and takes Kurisu to the Miho Training Center to back his prized horse, *Royal Fight*. However, his pushy attitude angers trainer Tadokoro, causing a fallout. Ordered to find a new trainer, Kurisu reconnects with his former lover Kanako (Wakana Matsumoto) in Tokyo, who introduces him to a talented trainer named Hironaka (Masanobu Ando). Kurisu visits Hironaka’s stable, unaware that this meeting will change everything.

3. On-farm Sale

Aired: 10/26/2025

Kanako struggles to keep her family ranch afloat. Her father, Tsuyoshi (Katsumi Kiba), insists on selling horses directly to owners instead of through auctions, but for a certain reason, each deal ends in conflict and failure. Meanwhile, Kurisu attends the birthday party of Yuriko (Nagisa Sekimizu), daughter of Kozo. There, Kyoko reveals to him how the Sanno family came to be involved with the horses. The racing division of Royal Human Corporation was saved by Izaña winning her 3yr-old Maiden race, but both Izaña and Fight were soon injured. To pursue their dream of winning the Arima Kinen, Kozo and Kurisu begin searching for a new racehorse. They place their hopes on an auction at Hokuryou Farm, known for producing top horses—but their rival, Shiina (Ikki Sawamura), is aiming for the same one…

4. Episode 4

Aired: 11/2/2025